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Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Godolphin’s undefeated and highly impressive 2-year-old filly Good Cheer, who has won her first two starts by a combined 25 ¼ lengths, headlines Sunday’s 12th running of the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs, marking her debut on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
The 1 1/16-mile Rags to Riches will be run as Race 9 of 11 on Sunday’s card and offers the top five finishers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards qualifying for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 2. Sunday’s first post is 1 p.m. with the Rags to Riches going at 4:55 p.m.
Trained by Brad Cox, the homebred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has been spectacular in two starts, most recently winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28 by an eye-popping 17 lengths while earning an impressive 93 Brisnet Speed Rating. Good Cheer, who debuted with an 8 ¼-length victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis, has quickly established herself as a contender to watch in the 2-year-old filly division. Jockey Luis Saez, who guided Good Cheer to her allowance victory, will have the call again in the Rags to Riches from post position No. 6.
#5 Good Cheer loved the slop tonight and dominates in R9 at Churchill Downs under @luissaezpty for trainer @bradcoxracing!
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 29, 2024
#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/RvZRZIQhFH
Among Good Cheer’s competitors in the Rags to Riches are Rigney Racing’s recent maiden special weight winner Claire’s Charm; Marylou Whitney Stables’ debut winner Alyeska; and Bobby Flay, Rocky Top Stable and James Ventura’s Schuylerville Stakes runner-up and Spinaway Stakes (GI) third-place finisher Sherbini.
Here is the field for the Rags to Riches Stakes in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):
- My Lil Punky (Junior Alvarado, John Ennis)
- Claire’s Charm (Tyler Gaffalione, Phil Bauer)
- Sherbini (Florent Geroux, Mark Casse)
- Alyeska (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse)
- Mechaya (Cristian Torres, Jimmy DiVito)
- Good Cheer (Saez, Cox)
- Adeera (Erik Asmussen, Steve Asmussen)
- Lady Orient (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss)
Sunday’s opening day card also includes the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (Grade III), the featured event on the first of two Stars of Tomorrow programs at Churchill Downs. These cards are dedicated entirely to 2-year-olds, a concept introduced in 2005 that has produced some of racing’s brightest stars.
Fans can watch and wager on the Rags to Riches, along with every race from Churchill Downs, on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
